Do you love to do needlework? Do you love being a Mom? Do you want to needlework with your Mom? Ok...maybe your Mom taught you how and you want to teach your kids how!
Learn from Stitchin' Mama, Colleen Leader and we promise you'll have your house all up in stitches!
So I woke up this morning and realized I have a bit more than 25 hours to get together a lesson plan for my son's (red head in the red sweater vest and black blazer) kindergarten class. I have been invited to come and talk about my job and introduce stitching to the kids.
Now, I of coarse think I have the BEST job in the world. I work in the needlework industry, can it really get any better than that? NOPE! But to be given the opportunity to introduce stitching to 25 six year olds has my head swimming.
What should I show them? Fabrics, Fibers, Accessories, Gadgets, Magazines...there are so many wonderful things about why I chose to start Loose Thread Stitchers, why needlework is so important in my life and how fabulous it feels to create something with my hands. I am so excited to be able to share that with this fabulous group of little people.
So today I will get to the store and pick up a few supplies. I want to create a few "test" pieces so they can use them in the classroom. I have to pack up some models and showcase the range of stitching (framed pictures, pillows, necklaces, smalls, etc.). A pile of fabric, threads, embellishments, etc. for each table of children and I am (cross your fingers for me) going to attempt to make cross stitch cupcakes. Did I leave anything out?
Edit Note ~ Just found this great blog by The Lavender Bakery that shows FABULOUS examples of cross stitch cupcakes! It is the second entry after the Jimmy Choo cupcakes. if you live in the UK ~ this looks like the place to be! This lady has talent! Thanks for the inspiration!
Colleen Leader is the owner of Loose Thread Stitchers, a
customizable needlework search engine. Her love for needlework has
inspired her to launch the Stitch
Your Heart Out (SYHO) Campaign. Come join Colleen and experience needlework
in a whole new way!
If
you've been reading the LTS blog you've probably picked up that the
kitchen and I do not get along. In fact, the big guy asked me recently
where I'd like to travel when the kids get older. I said probably
Hawaii, Ireland.....he interrupted and asked for a more domestic local.
Maybe Texas or Arizona, I suggested.....nope closer he replied.....like
maybe the kitchen. He laughed for quite some time at himself.
Seriously?
He's nuts! He knew when we got married, I was not skilled in the
kitchen department. I am certainly not the Queen of the Kitchen, but
the big guy on the other hand, is FABULOUS at making pretty much
anything and everything under the sun.....and so I will stitch this fun
little design for him to let him know that if I can't actually make
"food" in the kitchen I can still flex my stitching abilities there (:
Kathy from Designs By Lisa
is having an exclusive sale on this fabulous chart till May 16th. Sale
price is $5 and that INCLUDES shipping! Be sure to get over to her
website and order b/4 they are gone!
Colleen Leader is the owner of Loose Thread Stitchers, a
customizable needlework search engine. Her love for needlework has
inspired her to launch the Stitch
Your Heart Out (SYHO) Campaign. Come join Colleen and experience needlework
in a whole new way!
Over the weekend, my girlfriend Michelle
called and started raving about a fabulous new designer she just met at
a local art show. Rachel designs greeting cards and small gift tags and
although I was sure they were adorable, I wasn't sure how they would
fit with Loose Thread Stitchers.
Obviously I need to learn that Michelle knows of what she speaks.
Rachel has a fabulous line of non stitching cards but my favorite
series is a fun set about a sheep made of small balls of yarn. I just
LOVE the simple design. What a fun way to say thank you to your
stitching friends?
Rachel's designs can be purchased at Ewe and I
or your local yarn shop. Feel free to e-mail Ewe and I at
info(at)EweAndI(dot)com if your local shop does not carry her line.
They'd be happy to fill your order.
I
heart these cards so much ~ let's have a contest! We will be giving
away a set of 6 mini gift tags this week to a lucky stitchers. Here's
how to get started:
1 ~ Join the MomSpace newsletter mailing list 2 ~ follow the Loose Thread Stitchers Blog 3 ~ Leave a comment and let us know what other kinds of stitching cards you'd like to see 4 ~ Share this post on your blog and post the link in the comments section 5 ~ Share this post via Twitter, follow us and post the link in the comments section 6 ~ Share this post via Facebook, join us and post the link in the comments section
You'll
receive 1 entry each for a total of 5 entries. We will use a random
number generator to choose the winner. Good luck! The contest runs till
Sunday with the winner being announced next Monday. Good luck!
Colleen Leader is the owner of Loose Thread Stitchers, a
customizable needlework search engine. Her love for needlework has
inspired her to launch the Stitch
Your Heart Out (SYHO) Campaign. Come join Colleen and experience needlework
in a whole new way!
Have you heard about the Tote Buddy? So this is SO FABULOUS! I just had to share. I found this company on Twitter and I thought to myself, how clever is this? A fun and fashionable way to go grocery shopping and save the environment.
I always seem to have an issue with remembering the bags and then I get
annoyed b/c they are all over the place and I can never find them when
I need to...it drives me crazy! No more, check out the video of how the tote buddy works and use the code ~ earthday ~ when ordering to receive an exclusive MomSpace / LTS discount!
I
also thought of all the times I am lugging around my needlework, trying
to get everything together and I love the fact that this will work
double duty ~ grocery shopping and needlework weekends ~ how fabulous!
Now if I can only find someone to do the grocery shopping for me I
could stitch more (:
They even sell extra bags (choice of black or orange) at a great price ~ less than $3 a piece or $2 when ordering 5 or more!
Colleen Leader is the owner of Loose Thread Stitchers, a
customizable needlework search engine. Her love for needlework has
inspired her to launch the Stitch
Your Heart Out (SYHO) Campaign. Come join Colleen and experience needlework
in a whole new way!
Well my weekend was nothing less than eventful ~ B-day parties, T-ball games, The dog ran away.....(for the full read click here) Needless to say I was ready for the start of a new week! Yes, I was actually looking forward to Monday.
Monday for me is a day of new opportunities and re-do's. The slate is
wiped clean and I can start fresh and do things differently. Something
that didn't work last week, is long forgotten and I can concentrate on
trying things a different way and hoping it will turn out better.
So last week I remember writing about how we would start learning how
to stitch in the next few weeks and then I thought, some might not even
know where to find stitching supplies ( I know everyone might be
familiar with AC Moore, Michael's, JoAnne's, Hobby Lobby.....but there
are so many more options!).
When you visit a large chain store you are missing out on the
experience of stitching. Large Chain stores buy in bulk from large
manufacturers and ship and stock the same products in their 1,000's of
locations.
When you enter a LNS (Local Needlework Shop) it is a MUCH MORE personal
experience. The owner is not a kid working a part time job but a
needleworker who is excited to see you and help you find exactly what
you are looking for, help with a specific stitch or just enjoy browsing
and feeling the threds and fibers.
So where can you find a LNS? Or how do you even know what is
available? A great place to start is the Loose Thread Stitchers
website ~ we have listings for shop locations around the world,
classes, retreats etc. You can also find the latest and greatest
designer releases at Hoffman Distributing Company each and every Friday
afternoon.
So why not find a shop close to you and take a trip and see what it's
all about? Maybe this the week to start a whole new and exciting
needlework project!
Colleen Leader is the owner of Loose Thread Stitchers, a
customizable needlework search engine. Her love for needlework has
inspired her to launch the Stitch
Your Heart Out (SYHO) Campaign. Come join Colleen and experience needlework
in a whole new way!
I've had a few mom spacers e-mail me and ask how i find the time to stitch. With everything they have going they don't feel they can add one more thing to their plate. I gotta say ~ I HEAR THAT!
Being a mom of 3 small children, I feel your pain. Between track practice, T-ball, school, diaper changes, laundry, doctor's appts., dishes (I can't stand doing dishes) working full time, grocery shopping..........(OK that last one was a lie. The big guy does the grocery shopping, he's really big on coupons and getting a deal......I digress.)
The point is a lot of the time I am stretched to the limit. My day consists of all the things I can do to take care of my family and friends. Fulfilling their needs, their wants, their desires (let's keep this PG people) is something I feel I do well and enjoy doing but I still need time for myself. Time to recharge and time to zone out.
I (pre-kids) would sit in front of the TV at night after work until bedtime. Since the kids, the TV doesn't have the same appeal. It didn't feel productive, I wanted a sense of accomplishment, an outlet for my creativity and that certainly wasn't it!
Stitching gives me that sense of accomplishment. Starting with a blank canvas, threads and a needle and creating amazing art for my walls, to wear and decorate my home. I know it may sound funny but just hearing the threads move thru the fabric brings a sense of calm to my evening and a joy to my heart. Stitching is my own little haven where I can create and give a little back to me at the end of the day.
Doesn't every mom deserve time to herself to relax and renew? Never tried stitching? No problem! Next week I am going to share a how to guide to get you started! Maybe we'll even have a night of stitching ~ How fun would that be!
Colleen Leader is the owner of Loose Thread Stitchers, a
customizable needlework search engine. Her love for needlework has
inspired her to launch the Stitch
Your Heart Out (SYHO) Campaign. Come join Colleen and experience needlework
in a whole new way!
Since I am in the process of re-doing the girls room, we were on the hunt today for fun and fabulous art for their walls. I thought I could get away with buying something instead of stitching something (I know it sounds crazy coming from the "Stitchin' Mama" but there are times I would actually like to stitch something for myself and not worry about my "to do" pile for others.
Well that's until we stumbled upon Country Cottage Needleworks Cottage Kids Collection. Seriously, the cutest kids designs EVER! I totally forgot I had these! For Gracie I chose the Ballerina Dancers (with changes made so they all had her hair color ~ not a problem I can handle that) and Emma LOVED the princess parade and immediately went in search of her high heels and crown. The Seashells design made me wish it was already summer so I could get my vacation on....maybe if I stitched it the 2 months we have left till vacation starts will go quickly? Hopefully right?
Nursery rhymes, Christmas Carols, Baseball and more there are plenty of designers to get any mom excited to stitch a project for their little one.
...and yes, I put away my project and the girls and I are on our way to our LNS (Local Needlework Shop) to get our supplies. I can see my on the deck in the sunshine stitching my weekend away (:
Colleen Leader is the owner of Loose Thread Stitchers, a
customizable needlework search engine. Her love for needlework has
inspired her to launch the Stitch
Your Heart Out (SYHO) Campaign. Come join Colleen and experience needlework
in a whole new way!
So you don't stitch. No time, no interest? Want to find a project that will help organize your home this spring and not cost you an arm and a leg? Why not take this week to challenge yourself to re-purpose an item in your house? This morning I took an old infant laundry hamper and turned it into 2 bow holders and a headband holder. It took about an hour and I am thrilled with how it turned out (Here's the story).
Creativity shouldn't be something to fear, it should be something that excites you, feeds your soul and sparks the pride that comes from knowing ~ you did that! Does every project work out ~ no! That doesn't mean you can't try. You might surprise yourself......I know I did.
Colleen Leader is the owner of Loose Thread Stitchers, a
customizable needlework search engine. Her love for needlework has
inspired her to launch the Stitch
Your Heart Out (SYHO) Campaign. Come join Colleen and experience needlework
in a whole new way!
When Deane and I were getting married we had a difficult
time finding a house. We looked high and low and when we finally thought
we found the perfect place…well let’s just say we didn’t and instead moved into
a fixer upper.
Ok to be honest, it was WAY beyond a fixer upper, but I was
young and in love and knew my new hubby (whom I now refer to as the big guy)
could make it our home……my mom on the other hand cried after she saw it (no
worries she LOVES the house now).
The entire house was gutted.There was no kitchen (unless you count a fridge in the dining room and a
toaster oven on a chair), no floors, no walls…basically no inside of a house
except our bedroom and 1 pink and green bathroom downstairs – tres chic!
Every weekend the big guy and his dad would work on the
house.Ripping up the old carpet and
wood floors, tearing down the drywall, removing the kitchen cabinets were just
a regular Saturday and Sunday to these two.Weeks turned into month and months turned into years and the house was
transformed.
It took almost 3 years (we were finally on a deadline b/c
the little guy (now you know where the big guy came from) was set to make his
first appearance) and you wouldn’t recognize the place.The work the big guy and his dad did to our
house was (and still is) quite amazing to me!They transformed our house into a home they built with love.
When I saw Belinda, of Blue Ribbon Designs, new design
Established with Love, it made my heart flutter.I know I am one of the lucky ones who is able
to know exactly what that means.I live
in the house Established in Love and I have a great Father-in-law and the big guy
to thank for that!
Colleen Leader is the owner of Loose Thread Stitchers, a
customizable needlework search engine. Her love for needlework has
inspired her to launch the Stitch
Your Heart Out (SYHO) Campaign. Come join Colleen and experience needlework
in a whole new way!
Ok so I’ve recently became self decided I’ve lost my inner
girly girl.I know I had it years
ago.As a little girl I would dress up
all the time in dresses and LOVED it!As
a teenager I couldn’t wait to be able to wear makeup (finally I was able to
draw on my eyebrows…..I am SO blonde, I REALLY need then …believe me.)As a young adult, I loved getting all dressed
up and going out with the big guy (then boyfriend, now husband) and then…..
Not sure when or why it happened but it seems that between
having 3 children in 5 years and starting my company, my clothing and
appearance has gone from chick to cheap.Not in the fabulous ~ I shop at Target way ~ but more along the line ~ I’ve
taken over my husband’s old sweatpants and he’s not getting them back way.
Well, maybe I’m not that self aware…but recently I noticed my
oldest daughter Gracie getting ready to go out.She took forever to pick out her dress, matching stockings, shoes, jewelry,
hair accessories and her Girls Go Pink Purse I made for each of the girls when
we go out shopping.Gracie decided she
wanted plaits and bows at the bottom to match her dress and purse.Emma, my youngest, was happy as a clam to
dress identically and took plenty of time twirling in front of the big guy and
little guy (husband and son) to show off their "look”.Purses in hand they were out the door ~
beautiful and confident and it hit me…I used to be like that….What happened?
What happened to the girl I used to be?Where is she?I know she would be SO upset seeing this version of herself in sweats
and a ponytail (w/ an eyebrow in sight) running around town.I’m getting a little upset about it just
sitting here typing.Time is always
tight, running here and there.The
excuse is always that I want to make sure the kids and the big guy are taken
care of…but really wouldn’t it be good if I took some time for me and took care
of how I looked and dressed?So what am
I going to do about it?
I am taking the weekend to say goodbye to the frump I’ve
become.Come next week I will start taking
small steps towards making the change.This
should be an interesting weekend.Stay
tuned….here’s to Monday and the appearance of an eyebrow or 2 (:
Colleen Leader is the owner of Loose Thread Stitchers, a
customizable needlework search engine. Her love for needlework has
inspired her to launch the Stitch
Your Heart Out (SYHO) Campaign. Come join Colleen and experience needlework
in a whole new way!
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